It’s that time of the year again where newspapers are buzzing with stories about which top players will be switching clubs before the start of the new football season. All players have to start somewhere, and clubs invest substantial sums in running football academies, training the new generation of young players. These boys, some as young as 14, are usually hosted by families who live close to the club’s training grounds. Boys live as part of the family, having their own bedroom but eating meals and socialising with other family members. If you live near a football ground, could you be the host family the club is looking for?
Location
Some clubs, mainly the Premier League sides, have large academy systems, pulling in teenagers from across the country. These are more likely to be the organisations needing host families. Each will have its own rules about how far you should live from the ground, or public transport accessibility. There are no specific rules about the types of properties required for host families, but most will specify that the young football star will require their own room, access to laundry facilities, use of the Wi-Fi and so on.
Payment
Despite the large sums of money often associated with top-level football, host families usually take in a young footballing lodger because of a general interest in the sport or love for the club, rather than for the money. Payments are typically around £20 per night, to cover the expenses of having another household member, and providing breakfast and dinner. Most football academy students train full time at the club, although younger teenagers will also attend school. Scholars live with host families during the football season only.
Legal Requirements
Clubs have a duty of care to young people who they place with families, and there is usually a strict process for vetting new families who want to host a young player. Someone from the club will want to come to your home and meet the family, as well as seeing the room which will be used by their player. The most important legal requirement is that all family members over the age of 16 living in the property require an enhanced DBS check. This is a detailed background check into someone’s criminal record, including cautions or convictions which might be disregarded in other situations. There is a fee associated with DBS checks, but this is usually covered by the club once they have identified suitable families to host.
Having someone with a minor criminal record in the family won’t automatically rule a family out from hosting a young player. Each situation is considered on its merits. Clubs use the DBS system to try to weed out people with serious or extensive criminal records, who cannot provide the stable and responsible home required. Any football academy will have a safeguarding person or team who are there to explain the DBS system, and help any families through the application process.
